View source for The JOY of Christ...''

'''Back to [[THE LOVINGNESS OF JESUS 2]]'''
----
<p> <em>From Spurgeon's, &quot;The Parable of the Lost Sheep&quot;</em><br />
        <br />
        &quot;Who for <strong>the JOY that was set before him</strong> endured the<br />
        cross, despising the shame.&quot;<br />
        <br />
        A great sorrow was on Christ when our load of sin was laid on<br />
        him, but a greater joy flashed into his mind when he thought<br />
        that we were by his death, recovered from our lost estate.<br />
        <br />
        He said to himself, &quot;I have taken them up upon My shoulders,<br />
        and none can hurt them now, neither can they wander to<br />
        destruction. I am bearing their sin, and they shall never come<br />
        into condemnation. The penalty of their guilt has been laid <br />
        on Me that it may never be laid on them. I am an effectual <br />
        and efficient Substitute for them. I am bearing their sin, <br />
        that they may never bear My Father's righteous anger.&quot;<br />
        <br />
        His love to them made it a JOY for him to feel<br />
        every lash of the scourge of justice!<br />
        <br />
        His love to them made it a delight that<br />
        the nails should pierce his hands and feet!<br />
        <br />
        His love to them made it a JOY for him that<br />
        his heart should be broken with the absence of his Father, God.<br />
        <br />
        Even &quot;My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?&quot;<br />
        when the depths of its woe have been sounded,<br />
        will be found to have pearls of joy in its caverns.<br />
        <br />
        No shout of triumph can equal that cry of grief, because our<br />
        Lord joyed to bear even the forsaking by his Father, for the<br />
        sin of his chosen ones, whom he had loved from before<br />
        the foundation of the world.<br />
        <br />
        Oh, you cannot understand it except in a very feeble measure!
----
'''Back to [[THE LOVINGNESS OF JESUS 2]]'''